Lilies in AK

Gemini asked a few questions about lilies in my zone. Alaska is so large, it's divided into 5 different climatic areas. I am in what's known as the Interior. Summer temps are usually a very dry 70's during the day (though we occasionaly hit 80), low 60's at night. We are running a bit cooler this year. Winters will drop to 50+ below. My lilies have a very confused internal clock so it amazes me they grow at all. I may have Trumpets in June and Asiatics in August. There is no cyclical bloom period between the Asiatics, Orientals and Trumpets as most of you have, but instead, a full mix of all types throughout the entire summer

The only ones I haven't grown is martegons. The only ones that are hardy and prolific are Asiatics. I've unsuccessfully attempted several methods of over-wintering Orientals outdoors and have always done the trumpets in pots. So, all types except the Asiatics get dug up or unpotted and stored in wood chips with a sulphur dusting in plastic baggies in a Rubbermaid tub in our garage which is heated to approximately 40 degrees. They unfortunately come out of dormancy earlier than I'd like, so they get potted under lights in March. I usually have my first blooms the end of May and they will randomly continue through August.

Another factor that throws their clock off is our long days. We are currently at 22 hours of daylight and the other two hours are like dawn. So the flowers in my yard don't have ANY period of darkness after I put them outside in May.

We are approximately 3 weeks behind our normal summer temps and I've had a lot of buds suffer blast due to temperature variations and repeated stress. As stated in an earlier post, I sustained significant hail damage two weeks ago so unfortunately, a lot of my lilies will not bloom this year after getting so close. But even some of those whose leaves were ripped to shreds still are determined to put on a show... I'll post pics as they do and hope you enjoy my North Pole Babies as much as I've enjoyed all of the ones posted so far by others.

This is Eleganza from Faraway...Deep and rich

I only have a single bloom on lilium leucanthum...

Summer Palace has been open about a week...shows some slight hail damage

Gironde...

Blackout and Gran Cru started blooming May 23...This was on May 31

This was two days after the hail...I couldn't look bear to take pics for two days...

Boo hoo...

But Alaskans are tough...Blackout came through with one more bloom, this time with Gironde...and after the grass greened up...lol

Just beautiful and totally amazing what you go through each year to have that beauty. I love the Blackout and Gran Cru together; lovely combination.

Thanks for sharing.

Amazing...how far inland are you?

Just about in the middle...North Pole is 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks and 450 miles north of Anchorage

http://www.ohwy.com/usa/alaska/

Thanks for the edification. Enjoy your pics.

Sounds like a lot of work to grow lilies in you location, but you sure get some beautiful blooms. Sorry about the hail damage. Seems like everyone is getting hit with something this Spring.

susan

Thanks, Chocolatemoose for sharing your methods! Always fascinating to me how folks deal with various extreme climates.

Very interesting! Thanks!

Those are beautiful Chocolate - you did a great job!

^_^

Thank you all for looking and for the complements. Yes! Lots of work and I ask myself "WHY am I putting myself through this?...Then they open and I love each one more than the previous...and it's all worth it. That's why I've started my list for next year even though I'll already have all the ones to enjoy next year whose buds didn't survive their stress this year. They are in their special spot, rebuilding their energy to perform in 2009.

Here's a couple more
Conca D'or this morning

I liked this shot...

This Conca D'or was purchased at the Northwest Flower Show in 2007. It bloomed well last year, but I wasn't thrilled as it was not bright enough for my taste. So I overwintered the bulb, then for SOME unknown reason replanted it in a way too small pot in March...and the blooms are HUGE (7+") even though the plant itself is only 40" high and it's in an itty bitty pot...Guess it wanted to prove itself because I love it this year.

Dreamland...Been open a while but I don't think I posted a pic

Dreamland nestled in the delphs which are far fom opening

I placed the Conca next to the Dreamlands for a size comparison

Copper King...Awesome last year, overwintered in the garage but got hit pretty hard with the hail. Severe damage to the leaves and mutilated bulbs. Wasn't sure they'd even open, but some pulled through though they are all a little rough around the edges.

Last one for tonight...a slightly better Copper King...They have the most incredible scent...Intoxicating

You do a nice job Chocolate. Your lilies are great and your methods all must work well.

The side shot of Conca with the water droplets is a nice one. I can see why you like it. Beautiful flowers, and such dedication!

Ooooh, I like that Copper King!!! Nice lilies all of them. :) Thanks for sharing!

love your lilies,,, chocolatemoose! mine are barely coming along :(
it's just been too cool so far, and my flowers are having a hard time.
am having a bit of zone envy!

WOW...Another Alaskan with zone envy...That's bizarre...LOL

When did you start yours? We've been much cooler than usual and have had lots of rain...What's the weather down your way?

I just got back from Seward for Carol Eads' celebration (my 1st Alaska adventure, not the last) though I have chatted with you on the thread and knew you were there, i didn't get to meet you Rita. What an oversight on my part. I am so sorry I missed meeting you!

Chocolatemoose, your flowers are stunning! beautiful job. I have state envy!

Best wishes from a new Alaska obsessed lower 48 dweller.

Lovely photos. I really like Conca D'or, but it's so huge it does dwarf most any other lilies planted near it. Beautiful Copper King in spite of the damage.

susan

some of my lillies are from previous years, some are new this "spring" .
we've had very few "nice days, one of which was carol's day ~ i'm sure carol smiled widely so we could have the day. most days are cool, grey, and damp - low 50's day, low to mid 40s at night. most unusual spring/summer. my sugar snaps peas for browsing have been in the ground almost five weeks and are only about 6 inches up. my older perennials are budding, but my new replacement plants are still mostly just like they were when they went in the ground.
all my berry bushes are slow, but they're fruiting, except for my plum and apple trees, which are new this year. they've been in the ground almost a month, and aren't doing a thing. i gave the old apple and plum trees to carlie, carol and ava's cousin, and they're doing great! [they were stripped when the moose chewed on them.]

yes, shawna, it was such a nice surprise when you popped in! i'm sorry to have missed you, too. couldn't stay long at ava's saturday, and i don't go out much -- gotta do my gardening and fuss with the birds! and to do that, for 20 minutes or so, gotta rest for the next coupla hours.